Motorcycle CrashesMotorcycle Crashes

Lidia P. Kostyniuk, Ph.D., P.E.

University of Michigan Transportation Research institute

Michigan Traffic Safety SummitApril 28, 2004

BackgroundBackground 80% of motorcycle crashes result in

death or injury Between 1997 and 2001 in U.S.

– 26% increase in motorcycles– 51% increase in motorcyclist deaths

In 2002 – 2.2% of U.S. vehicles were motorcycles– 7.6% of U.S. traffic fatalities involved

motorcycles Increase in motorcycles expected to

continue

UMTRI

100,000

125,000

150,000

175,000

200,000

225,000

250,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Registered Motorcycles

400,000

425,000

450,000

475,000

500,000

525,000

550,000

Motorcycle Endorsements

Registrations License Endorsements

Michigan Motorcycle Registrations and License Endorsements

Rate per 1000 Drivers 1.8101965 1.7056742 1.5518102 1.483 1.324

UMTRIRegistrations + 45%Endorsements + 8%

Crashes involving motorcyclesCrashes involving motorcyclesMichigan, 1997-2002Michigan, 1997-2002

2,5432,997 2,914

3,184 3,216 3,051

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Motorcycle Crashes

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

20% increase from 1997But, 7% decrease in all crashes from 1997

UMTRI

Number of persons killed in crashes Number of persons killed in crashes involving motorcyclesinvolving motorcycles

64

54

79 80

94

82

0

20

40

60

80

100

pe

rso

ns

kil

led 1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

28% increase from 1997,But 12% decrease in all traffic fatalities UMTRI

Number of persons injured in crashes Number of persons injured in crashes involving motorcyclesinvolving motorcycles

2,2382,611 2,540

2,707 2,7672,607

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

pe

rso

ns

in

jure

d 1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

17% increase from 1997,But 18% decrease in all traffic injuries UMTRI

Crash-involved motorcyclists by ageCrash-involved motorcyclists by age

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Moto

rcyc

list

s 65+45-6430-4419-29<19

Age 45-64 - 87% increaseUMTRI

2,000

3,000

4,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Count

0

5

10

15

20

25Rate

Crash CountRate per 1000 Reg. MotorcyclesRate per 1000 Lic. Motorcyclists

Motorcycle Crash Rates

Rate per 1000 Drivers 1.8101965 1.7056742 1.5518102 1.483 1.324

UMTRI

Crash-involved motorcyclists by Crash-involved motorcyclists by licenselicense

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Moto

rcyc

list

s no license

no endorsement onlicenselicense withendorsment

55-56% legally licensed for motorcycle~10% no drivers’ license of any type

UMTRI

Who was not licensed to drive Who was not licensed to drive motorcycle in 2002motorcycle in 2002

Crash-involved Group

No endorsementon driver’s

license

No driver’s license

< 19 23% 54%

19-29 49% 4%

30-44 35% 5%

45-64 27% 3%

65+ 19% 2%

Men 34% 8%

Women 35% 10% UMTRI

Most motorcycle crashesMost motorcycle crashes

Dry road (89-94%) Good weather (73-81%) Daylight (68-71%) Peak Months June, July, August Peak days Saturday, Sunday Peak hours 3-6 pm

UMTRI

Single and multi-vehicle crashesSingle and multi-vehicle crashes

About half motorcycle crashes are single vehicle crashes

No difference by month, day of week, weather, road type, road condition

More single vehicle crashes at night

Slightly more single vehicle crashes involve drinking driver

UMTRI

Hazardous Actions, 2002Hazardous Actions, 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Perc

ent of dri

vers

MC - single vehMC - multi vehOther - multi vehCar

eless

UMTRI

2002 Citations

13% of motorcyclists, 30% of other drivers

Number of Had-been-drinking Number of Had-been-drinking crashes (motorcyclist drinking)crashes (motorcyclist drinking)

256300

391

243275

237

050

100150200250300350400450

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

8-10% of all motorcycle crashes4% decrease from 1997 UMTRI

HBD Motorcycle HBD Motorcycle CrashesCrashes

Fatalities1997 – 30 deaths (47% of mc

fatalities )2002 – 24 deaths (29%)20% decrease

Injuries1997 – 302 injuries (14%)2002 – 270 injuries (10%)11% decrease

UMTRI

BAC levels of tested fatal-crash BAC levels of tested fatal-crash involved motorcyclists involved motorcyclists

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

No. of M

oto

rcyc

list

s

BAC>0.100.08<BAC<0.100.0<BAC<0.08BAC=0.00

UMTRI 64-84% of fatal-crash involved motorcyclists tested for BAC

Helmet useHelmet use

Helmet use is high– 94% in 1997, 96.5% in 2002

Lower severity in crashes– with helmet

22-25% killed or severely injured

– without helmet 27-38% killed or severely injured

UMTRI

UMTRI

DOT-certified helmet and novelty helmet

Michigan trends, 1997-2002Michigan trends, 1997-2002

45% increase in registered motorcycles 8% increase in licensed motorcyclists Aging of licensed motorcyclists 20% increase in all motorcycle crashes 27% increase in fatal motorcycle crashes 44% crash-involved motorcyclists – no

endorsement on license 10% - no license Proportion of HBD crashes decreased

from 12% to 9%

UMTRI

What can be doneWhat can be done Licensing

– PIE, enforcement– Training programs, insurance co, dealers

Skill levels– Train and test on bike of size and type to be used

Helmet use– Educate, encourage, enforce use of DOT-approved

helmets Educate other drivers

– PIE programs “how to drive safely near motorcycles” Obtain better estimates

– of motorcyclists – amount of motorcycle travel in Michigan

UMTRI

UMTRI

Thank you